Author Interview with Anastasia V. Pergakis

I’m hosting an interview today with fantasy author Anastasia V. Pergakis. Anastasia is the author of “Cleanse Fire”, the first book in the Kinir Elite Chronicles. Thank you for answering my questions, Anastasia!

The Interview

1) When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I never had a conscious thought or a specific moment where I went “Hey, I wanna be an author.” I just sort…always did. I’ve been writing my entire life – starting with poetry, then moved into short stories, and finally novels. It’s just something I have always done and so I’ve kept doing it.

2) How long did it take you to write Cleanse Fire from start to finish?

The first draft took 30 days. I wrote it during NaNoWriMo 2009. At that time, it was titled “The Lost War” but the plot took a completely different turn as I wrote it, so the book was renamed to Cleanse Fire. The editing process took about four months.

3) What else do you have planned for the Kinir Elite series? How many books?

So far, I have full ideas for two more books, but I also have sketchy random ideas for more. It’s hard to say how many there will be by the time it’s over. But right now, I’d say a safe guess is 6 to 8 book total.

4) What’s the most challenging part about writing for you?

I work on multiple books at the same time, so the biggest challenge for me is having something finished in a reasonable about of time. Cleanse Fire is rare in that I work on only that book for the month time I wrote it. That was a big challenge for me to pull off and I’m surprised I made it. My brain simply can’t focus on a single more than a few days at a time, then I have to switch to something else.

 5) What are your writing goals for 2013?

With my career taking off, I have less time to write or at least, I have less “daily” time to write. What I’ve done instead is dedicate one day a week (maybe two if I can swing it) to JUST writing. No work stuff, no laundry, and no cleaning the house. Just writing.

With that goal in mind, I hope to have two books out before the end of the year. Three would be a bonus, but my real goal is two. Blood Trade, the second book in The Kinir Elite Chronicles and Burden of Prophecy, the first book in A Faery’s Tale Series.

6) What is your editing process like?

Oi. It’s awful! *laugh* No seriously, editing is hard but it’s an important process. After I write the first draft, I let the story sit for a week, maybe two (more if I feel the need to). Then I do a thorough read though myself and make any changes needed to the plot, flow of the story, dialogue. Once that is done, I send it to my critique partners and wait to hear back from them. I go over their comments and make changes as needed. Read through one more time – critique partners go over a second time – then it goes off to my editor. I make changes, read through one last time just to make sure…then it’s done! Or as done as can be anyway…

7) Are you working on something right now? If so, can you tell us more about it?

I am working on two things actually! “Blood Trade”, the second book in the Kinir Elite Chronicles is about half way finished with the rough draft. It’s going to be longer than “Cleanse Fire”, with more fight scenes, another little romance on the side, and a full on war!

The other project I’m working on is called “Burden of Prophecy”. It’s the first book in the “A Faery’s Tale” Series. It’s heavy on the romantic theme with the hero and heroine having a special love connection and their magical connection is the key to fulfilling the prophecy. But! They are supposed to be enemies!

Wow, that sounds intriguing. Two lovers who are supposed to be enemies. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the interview.

About Cleanse Fire

Title: Cleanse Fire

Author: Anastasia V. Pergakis

Genre: Military Fantasy

Complete the mission, no matter what…

Captain Derac Vidor has served Kinir for nearly twenty years. It’s his life, his blood. And then his Commander betrays everything Derac holds dear. Now he has to focus on his own life and his team instead of saving the citizens of Kinir.

Treason is only the beginning…

Fueled by rage, the team chases the source to their Commander’s betrayal – a powerful wizard bent on revenge. The wizard seeks to destroy the Kinir Elite, in both mind and body. No place is safe, even among their allies.

The past holds the key…

Derac’s tragic past may be the key to saving the team. But can he face the gruesome nightmare in time?

Short Blurb

Captain Derac Vidor dedicated his life to Kinir. And then his Commander betrays everything he loves. Fueled by rage, the Kinir Elite chase the source to their Commander’s betrayal–a powerful wizard bent on revenge. Derac’s tragic past may be the key to saving the team. Can he face the nighmare in time?

Author Bio

Anastasia knew she always wanted to write. She began at a young age, writing those little stories about the apple tree in the yard. Though her love of stories stayed with her through her poetry stage in high school, she didn’t begin writing novels until she was almost an adult. That’s where she found her true passion.

Her characters visit her dreams – and sometimes during the day – to share their stories with her. Anastasia is merely the writer, but the characters are really the storytellers.

Anastasia lives in Columbus, Georgia with her husband, son, and two black labs. She loves designing books and websites during the day, then writing furiously at night.

Facebook, Kinir Elite Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheKinirElite

Kinir Elite Website: http://kinirelite.com

Facebook, Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAVPergakis

Author Website: http://avpergakis.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AVPergakis

Author Page on Amazon (US) http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005UUVY5A

Purchase Links

E-BOOK LINKS

Amazon Kindle (US)

http://www.amazon.com/Cleanse-Fire-Kinir-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005U3RUNM/

Amazon Kindle (UK)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleanse-Fire-Kinir-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005U3RUNM/

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94952

Barnes & Noble Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cleanse-fire-anastasia-v-pergakis/1107530674?ean=2940013276154&format=nook-book&workid=1106609703

Diesel E-Books

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000094952/V.-Pergakis-Anastasia-Cleanse-Fire-The-Kinir-Elite-Chronicles/1.html

Blio

https://www.blio.com/blio/actions/searchHandler.do?userType=MLB&tabID=BOOKS&itemNum=ITEM%3a1&key=0010953438&nextPage=booksDetails&parentNum=12848

Kobo

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Cleanse-Fire-The-Kinir-Elite/book-npZYQAPAukSz-x3aGdly2g/page1.html?s=Fz-I1YyN_0yhuUD8jJs2KQ&r=1

Page Foundry

App for Android devices (search by title or author)

PAPERBACK LINKS

Amazon (US)

http://www.amazon.com/Cleanse-Fire-Kinir-Elite-Chronicles/dp/0984795103

Amazon (UK)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleanse-Fire-Kinir-Elite-Chronicles/dp/0984795103

(Available at all Amazon international sites except Amazon Brazil)

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cleanse-fire-anastasia-v-pergakis/1107530674?ean=9780984795109&format=paperback&workid=1106609703

Available at most online retailers in: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, and many more.

HARDCOVER LINKS

Kinir Elite Website

http://kinirelite.com/store

AUDIO BOOK LINKS

Amazon (US)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BR01SR6

Amazon (UK)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleanse-Fire-Kinir-Chronicles-Unabridged/dp/B00BR0ET2M

(Available at all Amazon international sites)

Audible

http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B00BQMJZM0&qid=1362941985&sr=1-1

iTunes

Search by title or author in the iTunes App

OTHER LINKS

Good Reads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12840266-cleanse-fire

Shelfari

http://www.shelfari.com/books/25710381/Cleanse-Fire-The-Kinir-Elite-Chronicles-(-1)

Library Things

http://www.librarything.com/work/11832820/book/78956085

Open Library

http://openlibrary.org/works/OL16122893W/Cleanse_Fire

Giveaway

Enter to win one of two huge prize packs! Signed paperback copy of “Cleanse Fire”, autographed posters of the team, signed bookmarks and more! Learn more how you can enter here: http://kinirelite.com/cleanse-fire-tour-2013. (Open internationally).